OBESITY: Help and OBESITY: Help and PreventionPrevention

By: Michael DiDomenicoBy: Michael DiDomenico

THE FACTSTHE FACTS Obesity is a disease that affects nearly Obesity is a disease that affects nearly

one-third of the adult American one-third of the adult American population (approximately 60 million). population (approximately 60 million).

Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans Today, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. being overweight or obese.

Each year, obesity causes at least Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S. 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S.

Did You Know?Did You Know? Obesity is the Obesity is the

second leading second leading cause of cause of unnecessary unnecessary deaths.deaths.

Obesity is a Obesity is a chronic disease.chronic disease.

Health insurance Health insurance providers rarely pay providers rarely pay for treatment of for treatment of obesity.obesity.

Obesity can increase Obesity can increase one's risk of one's risk of developing conditions developing conditions such as high blood such as high blood pressure, diabetes pressure, diabetes (type 2), heart (type 2), heart disease, stroke, disease, stroke, gallbladder disease gallbladder disease and cancer of the and cancer of the breast, prostate and breast, prostate and colon. colon. OUCH!!! OUCH!!!

BMI (Body Mass Index)BMI (Body Mass Index) Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical Body Mass Index (BMI) is a mathematical

calculation used to determine whether a calculation used to determine whether a patient is overweight. patient is overweight.

Calculating BMICalculating BMI [Weight (lbs) ÷  height (in)2  ] x 704.5 [Weight (lbs) ÷  height (in)2  ] x 704.5

=BMI =BMI Being obese and being overweight are not Being obese and being overweight are not

the same condition. A BMI of 30 or more is the same condition. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese and a BMI between 25 considered obese and a BMI between 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. to 29.9 is considered overweight.

Childhood ObesityChildhood Obesity Obesity in children and adolescents is a Obesity in children and adolescents is a

serious issue, with many health and serious issue, with many health and social consequences that often continue social consequences that often continue into adulthood. into adulthood.

In situations where there are serious In situations where there are serious health, psychological or social problems, health, psychological or social problems, parents should seek out the best possible parents should seek out the best possible advice for their child, and show their advice for their child, and show their support in helping them with these support in helping them with these problems.problems.

THE FACTSTHE FACTS Between 1980 and 2000, the Between 1980 and 2000, the

proportion of children and adolescents proportion of children and adolescents ages 6 through 19 who were ages 6 through 19 who were overweight tripled. overweight tripled.

Obesity now affects 15 percent (almost Obesity now affects 15 percent (almost 9 million) children and adolescents. 9 million) children and adolescents.

More than 10 percent of children ages More than 10 percent of children ages 2 through 5 are overweight, a 7 2 through 5 are overweight, a 7 percent increase since 1994. percent increase since 1994.

Food PyramidFood Pyramid

What Counts as a What Counts as a Serving?Serving?

Food Groups:Food Groups: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta: 1 slice of bread. 1 slice of bread.

1 ounce of ready to-eat cereal. 1/2 cup of cooked 1 ounce of ready to-eat cereal. 1/2 cup of cooked cereal, rice, or pasta.cereal, rice, or pasta.

Vegetable: Vegetable: 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables. 1/2 cup 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables. 1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw. 3/4 of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw. 3/4 cup of vegetable juice.cup of vegetable juice.

Fruit: Fruit: 1 medium apple, banana, orange. 1/2 cup of 1 medium apple, banana, orange. 1/2 cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit. 3/4 cup of fruit chopped, cooked, or canned fruit. 3/4 cup of fruit juice. juice.

What Counts as a What Counts as a Serving?Serving?

Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese: Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese: 1 cup of milk or 1 cup of milk or yogurt. 1-1/2 ounces of natural cheese. 2 yogurt. 1-1/2 ounces of natural cheese. 2 ounces of process cheese.ounces of process cheese.

Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts: Nuts: 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, 2-3 ounces of cooked lean meat, poultry, or fish. 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans poultry, or fish. 1/2 cup of cooked dry beans or 1 egg counts as 1 ounce of lean meat. 2 or 1 egg counts as 1 ounce of lean meat. 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup of tablespoons of peanut butter or 1/3 cup of nuts count as 1 ounce of meat.nuts count as 1 ounce of meat.

Percentage of Adults Who Reported Eating Fewer Than Five Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day, by Sex, 2002

                                                                                                  

Preventing Weight Gain Preventing Weight Gain Strategies to Prevent Weight Gain:Strategies to Prevent Weight Gain: 1. Assess Your Behavior and Environment:1. Assess Your Behavior and Environment: A) The amount and types of foods you eat.A) The amount and types of foods you eat.

B) Physical activity habits B) Physical activity habits 2. Adopting Healthy Habits:2. Adopting Healthy Habits: A) Healthful eating in accordance with the A) Healthful eating in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines. (i.e. Food Pyramid Guide)Dietary Guidelines. (i.e. Food Pyramid Guide) B) Increased frequent and regular physical B) Increased frequent and regular physical activity of activity of at leastat least moderate intensity. moderate intensity.

ExercisingExercising Physical activity does not have to be Physical activity does not have to be

hard or boring to be good for you. hard or boring to be good for you. Anything that gets you moving Anything that gets you moving around—even for only a few minutes around—even for only a few minutes a day—is a healthy start to getting a day—is a healthy start to getting more fit.more fit.

ExercisingExercising Easy exercises that Easy exercises that

everyone can do!:everyone can do!: WalkingWalking DancingDancing Swimming or swim Swimming or swim

aerobics (water aerobics (water workouts)workouts)

ExercisingExercising Light weight liftingLight weight lifting BicyclingBicycling SportsSports StretchingStretching

Preventing Weight GainPreventing Weight Gain Eating HabitsEating Habits - Over-consumption of - Over-consumption of

high-calorie foods. Some eating patterns high-calorie foods. Some eating patterns that have been associated with this that have been associated with this behavior are eating when not hungry, behavior are eating when not hungry, eating while watching TV or doing eating while watching TV or doing homework. homework.

Environment Environment - Some factors are over-- Some factors are over-exposure to advertising of foods that exposure to advertising of foods that promote high-calorie foods and lack of promote high-calorie foods and lack of recreational facilities. recreational facilities.

Cut Out the Fast FoodCut Out the Fast Food

PreventionPrevention Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is

important since change becomes more important since change becomes more difficult with age. Behaviors involving difficult with age. Behaviors involving physical activity and nutrition are the physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstone of preventing obesity in children cornerstone of preventing obesity in children and adolescents. Families and schools are and adolescents. Families and schools are the two most critical links in providing the the two most critical links in providing the foundation for those behaviors. foundation for those behaviors.

Causes of Childhood Causes of Childhood ObesityObesity

Physical ActivityPhysical Activity - Lack of regular - Lack of regular exercise. exercise.

Sedentary behaviorSedentary behavior – Long periods of – Long periods of television viewing, computer usage, video television viewing, computer usage, video gaming, and similar behavior that takes up gaming, and similar behavior that takes up time that can be used for physical activity. time that can be used for physical activity.

Socioeconomic StatusSocioeconomic Status - Low family - Low family incomes and non-working parents. This incomes and non-working parents. This may increase the chances of a child to be may increase the chances of a child to be less motivated to participate in any type of less motivated to participate in any type of physical activity. …physical activity. …

THE FACTS – In SchoolTHE FACTS – In School Self-Perception of Weight:Self-Perception of Weight:1. When asked to describe their weight, 30 1. When asked to describe their weight, 30

percent of students thought of themselves as percent of students thought of themselves as overweight. overweight.

2. More female students (36 percent) than male 2. More female students (36 percent) than male students (24 percent) considered themselves students (24 percent) considered themselves overweight. overweight.

2. More Hispanic students (37 percent) than 2. More Hispanic students (37 percent) than white and black students (29 and 25 percent, white and black students (29 and 25 percent, respectively) considered themselves respectively) considered themselves overweight. overweight.

Creating an Active Creating an Active Environment in Schools Environment in Schools

Nationwide in 1999, approximately 56 Nationwide in 1999, approximately 56 percent of high school students were percent of high school students were enrolled in a physical education (PE) class enrolled in a physical education (PE) class and only 29 percent attended PE class and only 29 percent attended PE class daily, according to the Center for Disease daily, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (YRBSS). Participation in high school sports (YRBSS). Participation in high school sports was 55 percent, with a higher participation was 55 percent, with a higher participation rate from male students (62 percent) than rate from male students (62 percent) than females (48 percent).females (48 percent).

Affects on Level of Affects on Level of EducationEducation

Obesity has increased across all Obesity has increased across all education levels and is highest education levels and is highest among people with less education.among people with less education.

Get Back on Track…Get Back on Track…Get MOTIVATEDGet MOTIVATED

Start slowlyStart slowly Set realistic goalsSet realistic goals Enjoy your workoutsEnjoy your workouts Exercise with a Exercise with a

partnerpartner Try new moves: Try new moves:

aerobics, Tai Chi, aerobics, Tai Chi, cross country skiing.cross country skiing.

And…Believe in And…Believe in yourself! ! !yourself! ! !